How Do Cookies Work?

Cookies are a cornerstone of using the internet and, ultimately, provide enhanced user experiences, both directly on sites and via effective data usage by the companies using the cookies.

But how do these magical little nuggets of information actually work? Here is a quick overview:

1. A website/host sends a text file to the user's device to be stored. This contains at least a unique identifier for that device and a reference to the website.

2. The website/host checks for the presence of this information when a user visits. It basically acts as memory for the website, as web servers have none.

3. Information relating to the behaviour or personal information of that unique identifier are then captured.

This can help with everything from remembering preferences, identifying an audience in Facebook, serving retargeted ads, creating your Google Analytics data to providing pop-ups at a relevant time with a relevant message. 

They are clever little things, these cookies!